Best RPGs for Android 2021

Role-playing games are wonderful, story-driven experiences that complement the mobile gaming experience nicely. Despite the relatively tiny mobile screens we’re used to (yes, 5.7 inches is still small by gaming standards), RPGs allow us to get lost in fanciful worlds for a while. In the case of some games, especially those ported over from PC, that “while” could be 20, 30 hours, or even more! This makes the best RPGs worth their price in the Google Play Store.

Unfortunately, like most game genres, there are some mobile duds. We’ve hand-picked the best of the best to save you the trouble of digging.

If you’re looking for more than just RPGs, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Android games out there!

Adventure Quest 3D was originally released for PC in 2016, but thanks to positive community response and consistent developer support (the most recent update dropped in June 2021), the game is still going strong and has expanded to Mac and mobile platforms. Featuring full crossplay between PC, Mac, Android, and iOS users, Adventure Quest 3D is a traditional MMO RPG packed with loads of different character classes, all sorts of weapons and armor for you to unlock, NPCs galore, and, of course, enemies and bosses for you to take down. The social aspect of the game is one of the key selling points and the user base is still surprisingly strong considering how long the game has been out.

The graphics are a bit dated and even a little goofy at times, but it’s not enough to take away from the overall experience. If anything, the look adds to the atmosphere since Adventure Quest 3D doesn’t take itself too seriously with loads of jokes, funny dialogue, and quirky NPCs. The character customization and cosmetic facets of the game are also excellent, with nearly every item affecting the look of your character. You begin with four starter classes available to you, like Warrior, Rogue, and Healer, but you can unlock additional classes further down the line to keep things interesting. It’s free to play, so give it a shot and see if you like it!

AnimA is a Diablo clone for Android, even down to the fonts used, but I’m here for it. This game pays homage to Blizzard’s classic ARPGs. It has a dark, foreboding atmosphere, a fun loot grind, and plenty of enemies to hack-and-slash to death.

This is a free-to-play game with microtransactions, but it seems to be similar to Path of Exile, where you can still play through the game on your own terms. Overall, the monetization isn’t too egregious, and the developers just let you enjoy the game.

So give AnimA a try if you’re into ARPGs and need something new to play. It’s a great time while you wait for Diablo Immortal to arrive.

Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time & Space is the brainchild of some of the most respected names in JRPG history. A collaboration between writer Masato Kato and composer Yasunori Mitsuda, both of whom have lent their talents to legendary titles like Chrono Trigger and Xenogears, Another Eden is almost unique in this list as it was originally created for mobile as opposed to being a port.

As you might expect thanks to both the title and writer behind this game, Another Eden deals heavily with time travel and has a fairly traditional JRPG plot. The story centers on characters Aldo and Feinne, a brother/sister duo from a small village who have their lives turned upside down by the appearance of the Beast King. Feinne, who bears a strange and coveted power, is kidnapped by the Beast King and Aldo must try to rescue her and the entire rest of the world in the process.

Gameplay is a side-scrolling experience that occasionally breaks out into a 3D view with turn-based battles befitting the genre. The art design is charming and colorful with some particularly good over-the-top boss designs. There are over 60 chapters to play through and the game is still being updated as we speak. The most recent update was in April 2021, which is pretty amazing when you consider that Another Eden was originally released in 2016.

However, if you want to access the full roster of playable characters, you’ll have to interact with Another Eden’s gacha system. This free-to-play title includes in-app purchases in the form of Chronos Stones, which allow you faster access to spin the proverbial wheel-of-fortune to get characters you want. You can also earn Chronos Stones just by playing the game, but of course, it takes longer to earn enough crystals to gamble them away again.

All told, Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space is pretty stellar for a free-to-play, massive mobile JRPG. It’s definitely worth a shot if you’re looking for that next big game to dive into!

Arcane Quest 3 is a mobile RPG game for fans of classic tabletop games. It’s a turn-based RPG that mixes adventure, role-playing, and strategy elements to tell an epic story of revenge and redemption. You create your adventurer from your choice of 10 unique classes as you battle hordes of orcs and other undead enemies to restore the honor of your guild and save your people.

On top of the main storyline, there are real-time multiplayer quests so you can team up with your friends and other players from around the world and unlock fantastic rewards. There’s also a quest editor that lets you create, publish, and share your custom-made quests, as well as options to play quests created by other players.

There are hours of gameplay to be had, which are sure to please the hardcore RPG gamer, all without implementing a pay-to-win mechanic.

If you’re a D&D fan, then you’ll want the Baldur’s Gate games on your phone ASAP. They use a modified version of the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition rules and the original Baldur’s Gate was credited with the computer RPG renaissance in 1998.

These are your classic fantasy games, where you start off knowing only the walls of the castle in which you were born but are thrust into a war-torn world under mysterious circumstances. Venture off and take on mythical creatures, as well as real ones like rats.

If you like a good old-fashioned romp around a medieval realm, clearing dungeons and slaying beasts, all while creating potions and bettering your character, then the Baldur’s Gate games should be right up your alley. Given the smaller text and menu controls, this game should ideally be played on a tablet, but you might be able to get by if you’ve got a larger flagship phone. Once you’re done with the enhanced version of the original game we’ve linked below, check out the sequel Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn. You won’t be disappointed.

The Banner Saga is a pretty awesome Norse fantasy tactical RPG that reminds me a lot of Fire Emblem. I only got a chance to play a little bit of the first game, but I hear nothing but good things about the trilogy. Unfortunately for Android users, only the first two games are available on the Play Store. Still, those are two games worth your time.

The art style is simply stunning, with excellent character design and gorgeous vistas. The gameplay itself is fairly intense, requiring a lot of strategy in how you form your party, place your units, and engage with your enemies. The Banner Saga features plenty of characters to interact and develop relationships with. Your choices matter here, so be careful in how you approach things.

I highly recommend both The Banner Saga and The Banner Saga 2. Yes, they’re $10 each, but if you’re a fan of tactical RPGs, then you should give them a try.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is an award-winning JRPG that offers one of the most complete mobile RPG experiences you’ll play in 2020 — and that’s complete in the sense that there are no in-app purchases or paid DLC to worry about. Hallelujah!

Everything about this game is polished and complete, and it starts with a robust overworld that’s filled with hidden dungeons to explore, epic bosses to take down, and other surprises along the way.

The turn-based combat is inspired by all the favorites you remember from the JRPG genre and is a real treat even for a casual fan like myself. Along with the dense and sprawling world to explore that’s teeming with enemies to do battle with, there are also deep crafting elements for upgrading your team’s weapons, armors, and magical jewelry. An RPG is only as good as its story and characters, and given that this game is based on a graphic novel of the same name, we’re given fully developed characters and a compelling story.

The main character of the story is a young girl named Gully who is on a quest to find her father, Aramus, a renowned hero who left behind powerful gauntlets before mysteriously disappearing — gauntlets that his daughter now makes use of in her own epic adventure. Gully is joined by a supporting cast that includes Knowlan the wise old mage who always travels with Calibretto, an ancient war golem built for battle that developed his own sentience and emotions.

This game is definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of either Battle Chasers or simply looking for a new JRPG to dive into.

Chrono Trigger is another legendary RPG developed by Square Enix that’s been celebrated for its fantastic storytelling and gorgeous 16-bit graphics, and it still holds up as one of the best video games of all time.

The game and gameplay itself have been preserved here while upgrading some of the visuals and sound in the port over to Android. Admittedly, this is going to be a bit jarring for hardcore fans of the game; this is not an emulated SNES ROM but rather a standalone game that’s been optimized for mobile gaming, with touch controls set by default and support for Bluetooth controllers. You’re also now able to play this game offline, making it a great travel companion for a long plane ride.

If you’ve never played Chrono Trigger before, this game is absolutely worth your time and money. It’s a game full of mystery, adventure, and action with a riveting story that is just so satisfying.

Butterscotch Shenanigans makes some quirky and hilarious games, and Crashlands is no exception. In what might be the funniest mobile RPG to date, you play as Flux Dabes, a space trucker who’s forced to crash-land (get it?) on an alien planet thanks to an alien jerk named Hewgodooko.

As you try to survive on this strange planet, you must craft your way through repairing your ship, building bases, taming wildlife to be your pets, and fighting the locals while crafting weapons and items from their corpses (it sounds morbid, but it’s great).

This is an award-winning RPG that most of you have been sleeping on. If you haven’t checked it out yet, what exactly are you waiting for?